Australian PM Honors Hero Who Disarmed Gunman in Deadly Bondi Beach Attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ahmed al Ahmed in hospital on Tuesday, honoring the man who heroically confronted a gunman during what officials have called the nation's deadliest gun attack in decades at Bondi Beach.

Albanese shared a photograph on social media platform X showing him shaking hands with Ahmed at the hospital. In his post, the Prime Minister praised Ahmed's extraordinary courage and selflessness, describing him as "an Australian hero" who ran toward danger to protect others.

Ahmed demonstrated remarkable bravery when he lunged at one of the gunmen during Sunday evening's attack at a public Hanukkah celebration. Despite being shot, he managed to disarm the attacker. The shooting began approximately at 6:45 pm when two assailants opened fire from a footbridge, aiming at the gathered crowd. Ahmed confronted one of the shooters, wrestled away the rifle, and is credited with saving numerous lives before sustaining two gunshot wounds.

After meeting with Ahmed, Prime Minister Albanese told reporters that the hero's actions exemplified the values of the nation and conveyed a powerful message of unity in response to terrorism.

"We are a brave country. Ahmad al-Ahmad represents the best of our country," Albanese stated. "We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite, we will embrace each other and we'll get through this."

Despite being severely injured and in significant pain, the hero, who is in his 40s, reportedly told his migration lawyer, Sam Issa, that he would take the same action again if necessary. "He doesn't regret what he did," Issa informed The Age after visiting Ahmed at St George Hospital in Kogarah. "He said he'd do it again. But the pain has started to take a toll on him. He's not well at all. He's riddled with bullets. Our hero is struggling at the moment," the lawyer added.

Ahmed suffered multiple wounds, primarily affecting his left arm, with one bullet still lodged in his left shoulder blade awaiting removal. His lawyer expressed concern that Ahmed might lose his left arm due to the severity of his injuries.

A Syrian-born Muslim who arrived in Australia in 2006, Ahmed was granted citizenship in 2022 after an earlier application was rejected due to minor legal issues that were subsequently dismissed. Issa mentioned he would advocate for Ahmed's elderly parents to receive citizenship in recognition of their son's extraordinary bravery.

Both Prime Minister Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns have publicly commended Ahmed's heroism. His courageous actions have sparked tremendous public support, with over 5,700 donors contributing more than $570,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, including a notable $100,000 donation from American billionaire Bill Ackman.